A British party has set up a nation-wide campaign aimed at gathering enough signatures to petition for a referendum on Britain's future in the EU. The UK Independence Party (UKIP), a eurosceptic group, launched its "let the people decide" campaign on Monday (12 September) and hopes to gain two million signatures. "This campaign offers an opportunity for the British people to have a decisive say in the running of their country, said UKIP MEP Roger Knapman. If such a referendum were arranged and Britons voted to leave the EU, it is unclear how the withdrawal would actually come about. To date, the only similar example is when Greenland went from being a full member of the EU as part of the Danish commonwealth to becoming a part of the Overseas Lands and Territories (OLT) grouping in 1985. Greenland's withdrawal meant no more EU access to Greenland's immense fishing territories.

TONY BLAIR must use his power as President of the EU to end the “medieval” practice of European legislation being decided behind closed doors, according to an unprecedented joint declaration by the leaders of all British political groups in Brussels. Critics claim that the Council of Ministers, the EU’s supreme law-making body, which decides two thirds of all Britain’s laws, is the only legislature outside the Communist dictatorships of North Korea and Cuba to pass laws in secret.

The very few countries in Western Europe that are not full members of the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, have some of the strongest economies in Europe:

Consider the members of the European Free Trade Area (Efta): Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Lichtenstein. According to the OECD, per capita GDP in the four Efta countries is double that in the EU. Euro-apologists are, naturally, quick with their explanations. "You can't compare us to Iceland," they say, "Iceland has fish." So, of course would Britain, but for the ecological calamity of the CFP. "We're nothing like Norway," they go on, "Norway has oil." Indeed; and Britain is the only net exporter of oil in the EU. Then my particular favourite: "But Switzerland has all those banks." Yes. And London is the world's premier financial centre. If 4.7 million Norwegians or 280,000 Icelanders are able, through bilateral free trade accords, to furnish their peoples with the highest standard of living in Europe, how much more could Britain achieve?Norway elections to spark new EU discussionAfter rejecting EU membership twice in referendums, the current Norwegian government - made up of pro-and anti-EU parties - agreed to freeze all talk on Norwegian EU membership. Rich, oil-producing Norway was generally perceived in the EU as an easy and even attractive country to get on board. But the Norwegians themselves were always split on the issue and may turn down membership in a third referendum. Norway voted no to joining the EU in referendums in 1972 and 1994.

Norway has rejected EU membership twice in referendums, first in 1972 and again in 1994. As a consequence the EU is not very eager to enter into new negotiations with the Norwegians. The pro-EU movement in Norway, too, has conceded that it is pointless even to consider new negotiations before there is a stable and vast majority for membership among the Norwegian people. At least 60% has been mentioned in that context. Iceland is better out than in the EU. The recent United Nations report on living standards and wealth published only a few days ago shows Iceland in second place after... Norway. So why should both countries even consider joining the EU?

There was a time when the Vikings did not create wealth, but robbed it from others. Those days are over. Today Iceland is one of Europe’s most prosperous economies. Until the late 1980s Icelandic society could be described as deeply socialist. Today libertarianism and economic reforms towards a more liberalised economy are simply seen as the mainstream political ideology in Iceland.Switzerland lies on top of the wealth tree

The World Bank has reported that Switzerland is the richest country in the world, with a per capita wealth of $648,241 (SFr816,913).

What about Ireland then?Is the year long progress done by EU-Socialism?Is the IT-market there hyper-capitalism? About what are we discussing here, it´s not that simple, or?Isn`t the Norwegian hinterland still excisting due oil-subsidies?

UKIP is a spent force in the UKThe labour Party has its own agenda that the British public will not sign up to.The conservatives are an ineffective opposition and the Greens are nowhere in sight.

Germany and France want a Euro-state dominated by themselves.

The remaining nations will not sanction the constitution if it comes up again and the whole thing will fall apart.

People are usually proud of thier Nation, you cannot subjugate that pride and diminish the identity of a people.

Fjordman, I said I would keep you posted about ways of the blogosphere effecting change well here it is.

I have set up a poll, the "Dhimmi Governments of Europe".

people vote for the goverment of a country if they think it is under the "influence" of Islam.

I have listed several countries.

the "winner" of the poll gets to pick a Target, it could be a government office/dept in thier country.

If Norway won for example, you cold them make the choice of target, put it on your site with e-mail address and short synopsis as to why you want the place hit then everybody hits that targetand so on, its worth a try is it not, the next poll you would host and choose the topics, the next winner does likewise

I think the EU should be reformed. Some good has come of it (easy travel, single currency, no wars against one another), but the idea of making laws which are not directly related to majority vote is ridiculous. The law makers need to be accountable to the people.

I think shaving it down to about 1/4 it's present bureaucratic size would be a step in the right direction. Is it really necessary to stipulate the size of a banana that can be sold in the EU? What if I like small bananas because I'm a small person? Let the market decide.

I also agree with some of Gandalfs's points: Gandalf, remember these poitical folks only want votes to secure their gravy train for the next few years. They don't see any further than a million pound house.That is what has to change.